54 Lakh Voters Added to Main Roll, Says CEO Sudharshan Reddy

Telangana has added nearly 54 lakh voters to the main electoral roll after they were issued notices during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, Chief Electoral Officer C. Sudharshan Reddy said. Verification of the remaining cases will continue until November 5, with election officials examining documents and claims before taking final decisions.

The Election Commission had issued notices to around 92 lakh voters after discrepancies were identified in voter details, including cases where their information could not be linked with the 2002 electoral roll. A draft electoral roll was published on August 17, following which officials began the process of issuing notices, receiving claims and objections, and verifying supporting documents.

Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Sudharshan Reddy said nearly 54 lakh of the 92 lakh voters who received notices had so far been included in the main electoral roll. The verification of around 40 lakh remaining cases is currently underway, with officials examining the documents submitted by voters before deciding on their inclusion.

The CEO clarified that receiving a notice does not automatically guarantee inclusion in the final electoral roll. Voters who have migrated or are deceased may not be included after the verification process is completed.

Explaining the procedure, Sudharshan Reddy said the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) would visit the residence of a voter who received a notice and collect the required documents. These documents would then be uploaded onto the Election Commission’s online system for further examination.

The records will subsequently be scrutinised by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), who will take a decision based on the documents and information available.

Sudharshan Reddy clarified that voters do not have to routinely visit ERO or AERO offices to appear for an inquiry. A personal hearing will be conducted only when the ERO or AERO considers it necessary in a particular case.

He added that, depending on the facilities available, such inquiries could also be conducted online. The software required to facilitate such proceedings has already been updated and made available, he said.

If a voter is unable to attend an inquiry, they can authorise any adult family member to appear on their behalf, the CEO said. The arrangement is intended to simplify the verification process and reduce the need for voters to make repeated visits to electoral offices.